DFW Invasive Species
Red Tailed Boa
Red Tailed Boa
LOCATION
Currently, red-tailed boas are only found on the island of St. Croix in the USVI. They seek refuge in locations with shelter such as urban areas, forests, and coastal shrub. However, they are most often spotted on the west end of St. Croix between Estate Northside and Estate La Grange.
Scientific name
Boa Constrictor
Common Boa
Common Boa
NATIVE ORIGIN
The invasive Red-Tailed Boa is native to South America and some Caribbean islands of the Lesser Antilles such as St. Lucia
Red Tailed Boas are large, non-venomous constrictor snakes meaning they kill their prey by squeezing. They are colored by a range of beige to red dorsal patterns, and tend to have a concentration of darker brown and red colorations near their tail, hence “Red-Tailed”.
They are nocturnal and slow moving in nature, preferring places that are hidden and quiet. Young boas spend more time hiding in trees before they become burdened by their growth and migrate to the ground. Adults can reach up to 15ft! Red-tailed boas prey on a variety of vertebrates from mice, rats, and other reptiles to small dogs, cats, and farm animals. Their jaws have the ability to unhinge, allowing their mouths to stretch wide to eat their prey whole!
Red-tailed boas are incredibly popular exotic pets as they do well in captivity and are generally tame. It is believed the red-tailed boa population on St. Croix began with the release of a pet boa into the wild. Red Tailed boas are also escape artists, and can or the animal escaped from captivity. . The first observations were recorded off the North Carolina coast in 1985, then in Bermuda in 2001, the Bahamas in 2004 and now they are prolific throughout the Caribbean.
Females reach sexual maturity at 3 years of age, and then can produce 20-50 live hatchlings after a 110-150 days gestation period. The maximum litter size is recorded as being 60 hatchlings after one gestation period. Hatchlings lead independent lives from birth.
Females also do NOT need male fertilization to reproduce.
Red-tailed boas are incredibly popular exotic pets as they do well in captivity and are generally tame. It is believed the red-tailed boa population on St. Croix began with the release of a pet boa into the wild. Red Tailed boas are also escape artists, and can or the animal escaped from captivity. . The first observations were recorded off the North Carolina coast in 1985, then in Bermuda in 2001, the Bahamas in 2004 and now they are prolific throughout the Caribbean.
Females reach sexual maturity at 3 years of age, and then can produce 20-50 live hatchlings after a 110-150 days gestation period. The maximum litter size is recorded as being 60 hatchlings after one gestation period. Hatchlings lead independent lives from birth.
Females also do NOT need male fertilization to reproduce.
Ecological Impact
PREDATORS
RISK TO HUMANS
PET TRADE
PREDATORS
- Red-tailed boas are considered a threat to various endemic species that fall prey to boas both when they are younger living in trees, and when they have reached their adult size and reside on the ground. Boas will eat anything that they can fit in their mouth!
- In the Virgin Islands, species at risk include native shorebirds, reptiles, and amphibians.
- It is also feared that red-railed boas may outcompete the smaller endemic snakes such as the endangered Virgin Islands Tree Boa, Epicrates monensis ranti and the Puerto Rican Racer, Alsophis portoricensis.
RISK TO HUMANS
Boas are also a threat to humans, specifically to small children, pets, and farm animals.
PET TRADE
Successful eradication of red-tailed boas from St. Croix would involve active reporting, tracking, and capture.
Management/Control
TRAPPING
BOA BOUNTY
TRAPPING
At present, the primary methodology for mongoose eradication is trapping followed by euthanizing. Although effective in short term for sensitive areas, trapping needs to be done efficiently and consistently. This is due to the mongoose’s ability to quickly recolonize an area after trapping was conducted.
BOA BOUNTY
- Recently, the Division of Fish and Wildlife has begun rolling out a “Boa Bounty” program to control the St. Croix Red-Tailed Boa population. The program requires participants to first complete a brief boa handling training for $5. Then, participants may bring in the snakes, dead, with head and stomachs intact, to the Division of Fish and Wildlife for a bounty per foot length.
- It is also required to submit photos and coordinates of each snake for reporting purposes to DFW.
- As the red tailed boa population is only on St. Croix, the program will only be held on St. Croix.
What You Can Do!
GET INVOLVED
GET INVOLVED
- If you are on St. Croix you may join the Boa Bounty program!
- You may also help DFW managed Boa Constrictor populations by reporting sightings. This can be done by contacting DFW directly at (340) 773-1082. You may also submit an anonymous “tip” to the DPNR hotline. This can be done online through the website DPNR Hotline (vi.gov) or on the go through the downloadable DPNR Hotline App!
- Download on the Google Play App Store
Download on the Apple App Store - Remember; Never release a captive pet boa into the wild!
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
You may also help DFW managed Boa Constrictor populations by reporting sightings. This can be done by contacting DFW directly at (340) 773-1082.
References
- Golden 2017
- Vázquez-Domínguez et al., 2012
- Burridge & Simmons, 2003
- Cuaron et al, 2004
- Issg Database
- Reed 2005
- Areste & Cebrian, 2003
